Background Brief on …
State Parks
September 2014 and
Inside this Brief Recreation
Oregon State Park Oregon's state park system originated in 1921 when the System State Highway Commission was authorized to acquire properties dedicated to the protection of roadside forests and scenery. The Legislative Assembly expanded that authority in 1925 to include acquisition, improvement, Outdoor Recreation & maintenance, and supervision of land for parks, parking Resource places, camp sites, public squares, and recreation Management grounds. In addition, the 1925 Legislative Assembly authorized the use of state highway funds for these purposes, so in these early years, state highway funds from gasoline taxes, private land donations, and federal Heritage Programs funds provided the necessary funding to grow the system to a network of over 200 park areas.
During the early 1980s, voters removed the park system State Fair and Expo from the State Highway Fund. In response, the 1989 Center Legislative Assembly created the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) as an entity separate from the Department of Transportation. Throughout the 1990s, General Fund support for OPRD declined as State Park Funding other demands for state funds increased.
In 1998, voters approved Measure 66 which amended Staff and Agency the constitution and dedicated 15 percent of Oregon Contacts lottery funds to state parks, beaches, habitat, and watershed protection. The 15 percent is split 50/50 between OPRD and the Oregon Watershed Enhancement
Board. Lottery funds now provide 32 percent of OPRD’s biennial budget. In order to maintain lottery funding, Oregon voters had to reauthorize the constitutionally dedicated lottery funds by 2014. Ballot Measure 76, Legislative Committee Services approved by voters in 2010, amended the Oregon State Capitol Building Constitution to continue the dedication of 7.5 percent of Salem, Oregon 97301 net lottery fund revenues to OPRD. (503) 986-1813
Background Brief - Legislative Committee Services Page 1 of 3 Currently, OPRD activities are funded primarily areas at 17 parks, and 39 reservable picnic by state park user fees, Oregon lottery dollars, shelters at 24 parks; 26 parks charge a day and recreational vehicle license fees. use parking fee. The system serves more than 42 million The Department’s responsibilities also include people a year, among the top in the nation. ocean shores, natural areas, scenic waterways, recreation trails, state recreation areas, and Other recreation facilities include ocean beach historic, archeological, and cultural preservation access, recreation trails, boating and fishing programs. docks, and river access points. Special facilities include: The State Parks and Recreation Commission Silver Falls conference center, youth camp (Commission) sets policy and approves major and group indoor, overnight facilities; actions of the Department. The seven Eleven group meeting halls; Commission members are appointed by the Eight interpretive centers/museums; and Governor and confirmed by the Senate. Two historic inns.
In May 2004, then-Governor Ted Kulongoski Outdoor Recreation & Resource announced a new goal for OPRD – to create one new state park per year for the next 10 years. In Management 2004, OPRD broke ground on Stub Stewart Recreational Resources: State Park in Washington County, the state's Significant local government grants for first new full-service state park in 30 years, parks and recreation which opened in 2007. The Department also Motorized, non-motorized, and water trails opened Sunset Beach State Park on the north Beach safety education Oregon coast in 2005, Fort Yamhill near Grand Ronde in 2006, the Thompson's Mills historic Natural Resources: site south of Albany in 2007, Crissey Field near Ocean shores – 382 miles of shoreline Brookings in 2008, Iwetemlaykin State State Scenic Waterways – 19 rivers totaling Heritage Site near Joseph in 2009, Beaver 1,150 miles and Waldo Lake Creek State Natural Area near Waldport in Willamette River Greenway - 3,838 OPRD- 2010, Bates State Park northeast of John Day in managed acres 2011, and Cottonwood Canyon State Park southeast of The Dalles in 2013. Volunteer Opportunities: Park Host, Adopt-A-Park, Friends’ groups, Oregon State Park System Junior Rangers, and annual clean-ups OPRD manages a park system that includes: 108,654 acres (as of June 2013) with over Heritage Programs 250 park areas, 219 of which have State Historic Preservation Office developed facilities and/or other Oregon Heritage Commission improvements; 55 campgrounds (28 open Oregon Commission on Historic year round; 38 campgrounds have Cemeteries reservable sites) that charge an overnight Administration of the National Historic site rental fee; approximately 5,500 Preservation Act standard campsites (including improved Archaeological site assessments and tent, primitive, and hook-up sites,); 48 permits group camp areas; and 350 specialty sites State and federal tax-incentive programs (including yurts, log cabins, tepees, and horse camp unit).
Nearly all state parks have day-use areas. State Fair and Expo Center The Oregon State Fair began in 1858 as an Facilities include 57 reservable day-use agricultural exhibition and expanded in 1977 to
Background Brief - Legislative Committee Services Page 2 of 3 include an exposition center. By legislative Oregon State Fair and Expo Center: $11.0 action in 2005, the Oregon State Fair and million (4%) exposition center was merged into OPRD, Other: $19.0 million (8%) effective on January 2006. The fairground ATV: $12 million (5%) includes: Trust & Dedicated Funds, $3.7 million (1%) The annual State Fair in late August through Labor Day; and Year-round exposition center concerts, Staff and Agency Contacts: festivals, shows, and other events. Beth Reiley Legislative Committee Services Since assuming management of the fairgrounds, [email protected] OPRD has suggested that the State Fair and 503-986-1755 exposition center would benefit from a new governance structure. Senate Bill 7 (2013), Chris Havel established the State Fair Council (Council) as Oregon Parks and Recreation Department a public corporation to conduct and oversee the Associate Director of Communications Oregon State Fair and exposition center and 503-986-0722 associated operations. The measure requires the Department of Administrative Services to report progress to an interim legislative committee on economic development by October 1, 2014, and Committee Services provides centralized, non- sets a deadline of July 1, 2015 for transfer of the partisan research and issue analysis for the State Fair to the new Council. Legislative Branch. Committee Services does not provide legal advice. Background Briefs are intended State Park Funding to give the reader a general understanding of a The 2013-15 legislatively adopted OPRD subject, and are based on information which is current as of the date of publication. Legislative, budget of $209.4 million is distributed as executive, and judicial actions subsequent to follows: publication may affect the timeliness of the Direct Services: $94.1 million (45 information. percent) Community Support and Grants: $35.4 million (17 percent) Oregon State Fair and Expo Center: $15.3 million (7 percent) Director’s Office: $4.6 million (2 percent) Central Services: $33.1 million (16 percent) Park Development: $26.9 million (13 percent)
The 2013-15 legislatively adopted revenues of $248.17 million are distributed as follows: Lottery: $79.2 million (32 percent) Park User Fees: $42.0 million (17 percent) Beginning Balance: $47.2 million (19 percent) RV Registrations: $22 million (9 percent) Federal: $11.8 million (5 percent)
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